Communications Server and Method

1. A communications server, comprising: a data receiver configured to receive status data for each communication terminal of a set of communication terminals, wherein the status data of a first communication terminal of the set of communication terminals is received from the first communication terminal, the status data of the first communication terminal indicates a current device status of the first communication terminal, the current device status comprises at least one current data output capability of a user interface of the first communication terminal, and the at least one current data output capability is selected from a list consisting of: whether an external audio transducer is currently connected to handle audio signals for the first communication terminal, a current notification mode that indicates handling of user notifications by the first communication terminal, and whether a display screen of the first communication terminal is currently in a locked state or an unlocked state; a terminal manager configured to: assign each communication terminal of the set of communication terminals to at least one communication terminal group based on respective status data for each of the communication terminal, wherein the first communication terminal is assigned to one of a first communication terminal group to which audio communications are transmitted, when the status data indicates that the external audio transducer is currently connected to handle the audio signals for the first communication terminal, or a second communication terminal group to which textual communications are transmitted, when the status data indicates that the current notification mode is a mode using only at least one of a visual notification or a vibrational notification and that the display screen of the first communication terminal is currently unlocked; and a communications controller configured to control transmission of communications data to each of the set of communication terminals based on the respective communication terminal group to which that communication terminal is assigned by the terminal manager.

2. The communications server according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal manager is further configured to assign the first communication terminal to a non-distribution group to which communications are not transmitted when the status data indicates that the external audio transducer is not currently connected to handle the audio signals for the first communication terminal and that the display screen of the first communication terminal is currently locked.

3. The communications server according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal manager is further configured to: initiate conversion of a textual communication to an audio communication for transmission to a second communication terminal in the first communication terminal group to which the audio communications are transmitted; and initiate conversion of the audio communication to the textual communication for transmission to a third communication terminal in the second communication terminal group to which the textual communications are transmitted.

4. The communications server according to claim 3 , wherein the communications server further comprises a text converter configured to convert between the textual communication and the audio communication, based on detection of at least one specific set of keywords.

5. The communications server according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal manager is further configured to: detect a change in the status data for the first communication terminal; and change the assignment of the first communication terminal based on the detected change in the status data.

6. The communications server according to claim 2 , wherein the status data further indicates, for the first communication terminal, whether a battery of the first communication terminal has at least a threshold charge level, and the terminal manager is further configured to assign the first communication terminal to the non-distribution group, when the status data indicates that the battery of the first communication terminal has less than the threshold charge level.

7. The communications server according to claim 1 , wherein the status data further indicates, for the first communication terminal, whether the first communication terminal is in motions, and the terminal manager is further configured to assign the first communication terminal to the second communication terminal group to which the textual communications are transmitted, when the status data indicates that whether the first communication terminal is in motion.

8. The communications server according to claim 1 , wherein the status data further indicates, for the first communication terminal, a biometric property detected for a user of the first communication terminal, and the terminal manager is further configured to assign the first communication terminal to a third communication terminal group selected in response to the detected biometric property of the user.

9. The communications server according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal manager is further configured to: access data indicating a category of a user of each terminal device of a set of terminal devices; and assign a specific communication terminal to a third communication terminal group selected based on the category of the user of a specific terminal device.

10. The communications server according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal manager is further configured to access data indicating a first time period for communications between each communication terminal of the set of communication terminal, and the communications controller is further configured to inhibit communication between each terminal device of the set of terminal devices at a second time period, the second time period is different from the first time period.

11. The communications server according to claim 10 , wherein each communication terminal of the set of the communication terminals is a telephone device having a telecommunications capability independent of the communications server, and the communications controller is further configured to instruct each communication terminal of the set of communication terminals to inhibit communication using the telecommunications capability within the first time period.

12. The communications server according to claim 1 , wherein the set of the communication terminals are configured to communicate with one another by a source terminal of the set of the communication terminals transmitting a communication to the communications server, and the communications server transmitting the communication to at least one destination terminal of the set of the communication terminals.

13. A communications system, comprising: a communications server; and a set of communication terminals each configured to receive communications data and to provide status data indicating a respective current device status to the communications server, wherein the communication server, comprising: a data receiver configured to receive status data for each communication terminal of a set of communication terminals, wherein the status data of a specific communication terminal of the set of communication terminals is received from the specific communication terminal, the status data of the specific communication terminal indicates a current device status of the specific communication terminal, the current device status comprises at least one current data output capability of a user interface of the specific communication terminal, and the at least one current data output capability is selected from a list consisting of: whether an external audio transducer is currently connected to handle audio signals for the specific communication terminal, a current notification mode that indicates handling of user notifications by the specific communication terminal, and whether a display screen of the specific communication terminal is currently in a locked state or an unlocked state; a terminal manager configured to: assign each communication terminal of the set of communication terminals to at least one communication terminal group based on respective status data for each of the communication terminal, wherein the specific communication terminal is assigned one of a first communication terminal group to which audio communications are transmitted, when the status data indicates that the external audio transducer is currently connected to handle the audio signals for the specific communication terminal, or a second communication terminal group to which textual communications are transmitted, when the status data indicates that the current notification mode is a mode using only at least one of a visual notification or a vibrational notification and that the display screen of the specific communication terminal is currently unlocked; and a communications controller configured to control transmission of communications data to each of the set of communication terminals based on the respective communication terminal group to which that communication terminal is assigned by the terminal manager.

14. A computer-implemented method of operation of a communications server, the method comprising: receiving status data for each communication terminal of a set of communication terminals, wherein the status data of a specific communication terminal of the set of communication terminals is received from the specific communication terminal, the status data of the specific communication terminal indicates a current device status of the specific communication terminal, the current device status comprises at least one current data output capability of a user interface of the specific communication terminal, and the at least one current data output capability is selected from a list consisting of: whether an external audio transducer is currently connected to handle audio signals for the specific communication terminal, a current notification mode that indicates handling of user notifications by the specific communication terminal, and whether a display screen of the specific communication terminal is currently in a locked state or an unlocked state; assigning each communication terminal of the set of communication terminals to at least one communication terminal group based on respective status data for each of the communication terminal, wherein the specific communication terminal is assigned one of a first communication terminal group to which audio communications are transmitted, when the status data indicates that the external audio transducer is currently connected to handle the audio signals for the specific communication terminal, or a second communication terminal group to which textual communications are transmitted, when the status data indicates that the current notification mode is a mode using only at least one of a visual notification or a vibrational notification and that the display screen of the specific communication terminal is currently unlocked; and controlling transmission of communications data to each of the set of communication terminals based on the respective communication terminal group to which that communication terminal is assigned.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to execute operations, the operations comprising: receiving status data for each communication terminal of a set of communication terminals, wherein the status data of a specific communication terminal of the set of communication terminals is received from the specific communication terminal, the status data of the specific communication terminal indicates a current device status of the specific communication terminal, the current device status comprises at least one current data output capability of a user interface of the specific communication terminal, and at least one current data output capability is selected from a list consisting of: whether an external audio transducer is currently connected to handle audio signals for the specific communication terminal, a current notification mode that indicates handling of user notifications by the specific communication terminal, and whether a display screen of the specific communication terminal is currently in a locked state or an unlocked state; assigning each communication terminal of the set of communication terminals to at least one communication terminal group based on respective status data for each of the communication terminal, wherein the specific communication terminal is assigned one of a first communication terminal group to which audio communications are transmitted, when the status data indicates that the external audio transducer is currently connected to handle the audio signals for the specific communication terminal, or a second communication terminal group to which textual communications are transmitted, when the status data indicates that the current notification mode is a mode using only at least one of a visual notification or a vibrational notification and that the display screen of the specific communication terminal is currently unlocked; and controlling transmission of communications data to each of the set of communication terminals based on the respective communication terminal group to which that communication terminal is assigned.

16. A computer-implemented method of operation of a specific communication terminal, the method comprising: generating status data indicating a current device status of the specific communication terminal; transmitting the status data to a communications server, wherein the current device status comprises at least one current data output capability of a user interface of the specific communication terminal, and the at least one current data output capability is selected from a list consisting of: whether an external audio transducer is currently connected to handle audio signals for the specific communication terminal, a current notification mode that indicates handling of user notifications by the specific communication terminal, and whether a display screen of the specific communication terminal is currently in a locked state or an unlocked state; assigning the specific communication terminal to at least one communication terminal group based on the status data for the specific communication terminal, wherein the specific communication terminal is assigned one of: a first communication terminal group to which audio communications are transmitted, when the status data indicates that the external audio transducer is currently connected to handle the audio signals for the specific communication terminal, or a second communication terminal group to which textual communications are transmitted, when the status data indicates that the current notification mode is a mode using only at least one of a visual notification or a vibrational notification and that the display screen of the specific communication terminal is currently unlocked; controlling transmission of communications data to the specific communication terminal based on the assigned at least one communication terminal group; and performing communication with at least one communication terminal via the communications server, wherein the specific communication terminal is different from the at least one communication terminal.

17. A communication system, comprising: a central processing unit (CPU) configured to: generate status data indicating a current device status of a specific communication terminal; transmit the generated status data to a communications server, wherein the status data of the specific communication terminal indicates a current device status of the specific communication terminal, the current device status comprises at least one current data output capability of a user interface of the specific communication terminal, and at least one current data output capability is selected from a list consisting of: whether an external audio transducer is currently connected to handle audio signals for the specific communication terminal, a current notification mode that indicates handling of user notifications by the specific communication terminal, and whether a display screen of the specific communication terminal is currently in a locked state or an unlocked state; assign the specific communication terminal to at least one communication terminal group based on the status data for the specific communication terminal, wherein the specific communication terminal is assigned one of a first communication terminal group to which audio communications are transmitted, when the status data indicates that the external audio transducer is currently connected to handle the audio signals for the specific communication terminal, or a second communication terminal group to which textual communications are transmitted, when the status data indicates that the current notification mode is a mode using only at least one of a visual notification or a vibrational notification and that the display screen of the specific communication terminal is currently unlocked; control transmission of communications data to the specific communication terminal based on the assigned at least one communication terminal group; and perform communication with at least one communication terminal via the communications server, wherein the specific communication terminal is different from the at least one communication terminal.

18. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to execute operations, the operations comprising: generating status data indicating a current device status of a specific communication terminal; transmitting the status data to a communications server, wherein the status data of the specific communication terminal indicates a current device status of the specific communication terminal, the current device status comprises at least one current data output capability of a user interface of the specific communication terminal, and at least one current data output capability is selected from a list consisting of: whether an external audio transducer is currently connected to handle audio signals for the specific communication terminal, a current notification mode that indicates handling of user notifications by the specific communication terminal, and whether a display screen of the specific communication terminal is currently in a locked state or an unlocked state; assigning the specific communication terminal to at least one communication terminal group based on the status data for the specific communication terminal, wherein the specific communication terminal is assigned one of: a first communication terminal group to which audio communications are transmitted, when the status data indicates that the external audio transducer is currently connected to handle the audio signals for the specific communication terminal, or a second communication terminal group to which textual communications are transmitted, when the status data indicates that the current notification mode is a mode using only at least one of a visual notification or a vibrational notification and that the display screen of the specific communication terminal is currently unlocked; controlling transmission of communications data to the specific communication terminal based on the assigned at least one communication terminal group; and performing communication with at least one communication terminal via the communications server, wherein the specific communication terminal is different from the at least one communication terminal.